Algerian side Mouloudia Olympique de Bejaia are on the road this Wednesday evening, visiting Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe and eyeing a win in their CAF Confederation Cup, Group A encounter at Stade du TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.
Kick-off is at 3:30pm.
Coach Nasser Sandjak will have to try all the tricks in his suitcase for them to come out victorious in Lubumbashi.
He is aware that the assignment ahead of them will not be an easy one because they failed to bag the full three points at home a fortnight ago.
The Crabs currently sit at No 2 in the group with five points behind the Les Corbeaux. A win will come as a huge boost for their quest to reach the semifinals.
Despite their previous draw against Mazembe, they have one win over Tanzania’s Young Africans and two draws to Mazembe and SC Medeama of Ghana next to their name on the log table.
A win for them away will take them to eight points and the coach will hope to see the same fighting spirit his charges displayed at home against the DRC outfit.
Sandjak will pin his hopes on Yacine Salhi to return to his old form and hopefully trouble the Mazembe defence as he scored for them against Yanga.
Shifting focus to the hosts, the Ravens are brimming with confidence having already bagged two victories in the group with only one draw thus far.
Mazembe occupy the top spot in the group with seven points and will go all out to get another full three points to ensure they remain favourites to win the group.
Having beaten Young Africans and SC Medeama, including a draw against Bejaia, they have seven points and a win will secure their knockout spot.
Coach Hubert Velud will want nothing other than a win in front of their home crowd and will be boosted by the fact that they went away to Algeria and came back with a point.
Velud will once again call upon striker Thomas Ulimwengu.
Ulimwengu is the man who downed Yanga as they took control of the group and this crucial encounter at home is what motivates players of his quality.
